Frank f



Sheets- Sheet 1.

F. I'. STEVENS. SWITCH.

(No Model.)

No. 547,094. Patented Oct. 1, 1895.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. F. STEVENS. SWITCH.

No` 547,094. Patented 00'sn 1, 1895.

NITE

rnrns FRANK F. STEVENS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HARRY A. MCORARY.

SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,094, dated October 1, 1895.

Application tiled June 2l, 1895. Serial No. 553,570. (No model.)

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK F. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates tc a new and useful improvement in switches; and itconsists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

The aim and purpose of this invention is to provide a switch in which the pointrail has a vertical instead of a lateral movement, the advantages of this construction being that the switch can be easily operated and the pointrail can be placed or housed in a casing and in its vertical movement clean the switch from snow, ice,rocks, or other dbris common to the blocking of split switches; also in making a safety-switch which, if out of position, will be set by the approaching train and prevent the derailing of the engine.

These objects are obtained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved switch, being set forasiding. Fig. 2 is a crosssection on the line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the point-rail removed; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the outer side of the main rail, showing the switch-operating block removed.

In the drawings, A represents the main rails, and B the switch or side rails.

C represents the point-rails, the upper portions of which are of the usual tapering shape.

D represents a casing in which point-rails are placed. These casings, the main and switch rails, and the point-rails rest on a plate E.

The parts of the switch being of the same construction on both sides, a description of one side will suflice for both. Near one end of the point-rail is a cut-away portion b, which has the vertical side wall b', the flat top, and

the inclined side wall h. The ends of the pivoted slide-rails engage the cut-away portion, as hereinafter described. Extending from this cut-away portion to the opposite end ot the point-rail is a lateral flange c. This flange has theiiat upper surface c and the beveled lower surface d, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. This point-rail fits snugly within the casing and has no longitudinal movement.

The top of the casing is beveled, as shown at e, to correspond with the taper in the pointrail,V which will prevent any longitudinal movement of the rail in one direction. The opposite end of the casing is provided with a wallf, which has the beveled upper portionf. This wallf is beyond the vertical side wall b of the cut-away portion b of the rail and will prevent any longitudinal movement of the rail at that end. It will thus be seen that by the construction just described the rail can be adjusted vertically, but not longitudinally, and the cut-away portion corresponding to the shape of the rail a tight joint is formed and no snow or dust can enter the casing. The inner side of the casing is provided with a series of apertures G.

H represents the point-rail-operatin g frame, which is located between the two casings and consists of the cross-pieces H and the longitudinal end pieces h. These, end pieces are adapted to bear against the sides of the cas ings. Extending laterally from the end pieces are blocks I, corresponding in number to the apertures G in the casing and are of a size to snugly fit the apertures and at the same time freely slide therein. These blocks are beveled at their ends, as shown at t'. The frame and blocks rest on the plate E.

K represents the slide-rails, which are pivoted at one end to the plate E, as shown at J. These rails make a tight joint with the main and switch rails A B. The oppositeends of these rails are cut away, forming the vertical walls K', the inclined bottoms la, the fiat portions k', and the vertical portions lo. This cutaway portion is adapted to pass under the cut-away portion h of the point-rail and support the end of the rail, and the vertical portion le bears against the Wallf, as shown in Fig. 3. The free ends of these slide-rails are connected by the cross-rod L, and this rod is IOO connected to the switch-operating frame by the link Z, which has one end rigidly secured to the frame and the opposite end pivoted to the cross-rod.

It will be seen by referring to Fig. 1 that the switch is set for a siding, and when the switch-operating frame is moved laterally one point-rail will fall and the other will be raised by virtue of the beveled blocks I being forced against the beveled lower surface of the [lange c on the point-rail, and at the same time the slide-rails will also be moved laterally by the link l and cross-rod L, and the main slide-rail will engage the cut-away portion of thc pointrail, and the switch will then be set for the main tracks.

The main rails have apertures m, registering with the apertures in the casing, as shown in Fig. 5, and into which the ends of the blocks I enter when the block is in to raise the slide-rail.

M is an operating-rod having the usual leverand spring N. This rod is connected at its opposite ends to the switch-operating frame and to a tumbling-rod connected to the rails. lVhen moved laterally, one point-rail will be raised and the other lowered, the sliderail brought to place, throwing the other rail out of place, whereby the switch is changed. One of my principal objects in throwing these slide-rails is to prevent accident. Anything passing over them cannot be derailed. If the switch is wrong, the flange of the wheel will force the slide and point rails back to place, and thereby with its connection with switch force the switch over. The spring in the switch-rod throws it back after it is relieved of the train.

I am aware that many minor changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without in theleast departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a switch, the combination with the main rail and switch rail, of a vertically movable point rail, a lateral flange on the point rail having a beveled lower surface, a block having a complementary beveled portion to the bevel on the flange, and means for laterally moving the beveled portion of the block into engagement with the bevel on the Ilange,

substantially as described.

2. In` a switch, the combination with the main rails and switch rails, of vertically movable point rails, pivoted slide rails having their free ends adjacent the point rails, means for raising one point rail when the other point rail is lowered, and a connection between said means and slide rails, substantially as described.

3. In a switch, the combination with the main rail and switch rail, of a casing adjacent the main rail having a tapered opening in its top portion, a vertically movable point rail within the casing having a complementary taper with the taper in the top portion of the casing, a longitudinal flange on the side of the point rail extending laterally therefrom and having a beveled lower surface and a laterally moving block having a beveled p01'- tion adapted to engage the bevel on the flange, substantially as described.

4. In a switch, the combination with amain rail having a series of apertures therein and a switch rail, of a casing adjacent the main rail having a series of apertures in its side portion registering with the apertures in the main rail, a plate on which the main and switch rails and casing are supported, a vertically movable point rail in the casing normally resting on the plate and normally havingits upper surface flush with the upper surface of the casing a lateral flange on the point rail having a beveled lower surface, a sliding frame on the plate, a series of blocks on the frame passing through the apertures in the casing, beveled end portions on the blocks engaging the beveled portion on the flange of the point rail and means for operating the frame, substantially as described.

5. In a switch, the combination' with the main rails and switch rails, of verticallymovable point rails, pivoted slide rails having their free ends adapted to support the end of the point rails when the point rails arc raised, means for raising one point rail when the other point rail is lowered, and a connection between said means and slide rails, substantially as described.

G. In a switch, the combination with the main rails and switch rails, of vertically movable point rails having a cutaway portion at one end, pivoted slide rails having a cutaway portion on their free ends, adapted to engage under the cutaway portion of the point rails when the point rails are raised, means for raising one point rail when the other point rail is lowered, and a connection between said means and slide rails, substantially' as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK F. STEVENS.

Witnesses:

KITTIE Rans, MYRTLE WooDLING.

IIO 

